World Diamond Council President Resigns; Stephane Fischler to Become Acting President Until Assuming the Position Officially in May 2018

28 June 2017

NEW YORK, NY, June 28, 2017 — The World Diamond Council (WDC), an industry group focused on removing conflict diamonds from the global supply chain and protecting the value of natural diamonds, today announced that current president Andrey Polyakov will be resigning by the end of the week. Current WDC Vice President Stephane Fischler will become acting President effective July 1, 2017. Mr Fischler will serve in this capacity until the end of the term of this Board, at which time he will start his two year term as WDC President. Polyakov became President of the WDC in May 2016 after serving as Vice President for the organization the year prior.

“It has been an honor to serve as President of the WDC and to be a part of an organization tasked with such an important mission for our industry, said outgoing WDC President Polyakov. “We have achieved much together, but assuring that the diamond supply chain remains virtually free of conflict diamonds will take vigilance and an ongoing commitment to education and training for the next generation of industry stewards.”

Acting WDC President Fischler added, “We owe a debt of gratitude to Andrey for his leadership and I, along with the rest of the members, look forward to continuing the good work he began with us.”